Then-3-month-old Mathias Mendoza was just one week out of the hospital when his mother and aunt experienced something they'll never forget.

It was December 13. Barbara Gonzales, his aunt, was looking after him while Brenda Mendoza was down the street picking his older brother up at school. The infant had just finished a bottle and all seemed normal until he suddenly stopped breathing.

"His body just went limp," Gonzales recalled.

Gonzales called 9-1-1 and her sister and administered CPR to her nephew while waiting for first responders to arrive.

On Friday night, Plainview Police Chief Ken Coughlin said her actions saved now-7-month-old Mathias' life when he introduced Gonzales as the recipient of the 2019 Life-Saving Award during the fifth annual Police Department Employee Awards Dinner. Gonzales was one of three individuals to be recognized with a Community Service Award and the only one present.

Police arrived on-scene first after Gonzales had done CPR. Mathias was breathing and alert when he was transported by EMS to the hospital.

When Mendoza got the call about her son, she rushed back home, walked inside and just sank to the floor in tears, she said.

"I was just down the street," she said.

It was Mathias' first week at home after being born premature at 28 weeks, Mendoza said. After that incident, he was hospitalized for two days and released only to end up back in the hospital about two weeks later after a similar incident.

Doctors attribute both cases to bad reflux problems, Mendoza said. He had to have a "fundo" (fundoplication) surgery to correct it.

Mathias is fine now, she said. At 7 months old, he's a happy baby and he had plenty of smiles to share after the PD ceremony on Friday.

And since December, Mendoza said, Mathias and his Aunt Barbara have developed a unique bond.

"Sometimes it's like I'm the aunt," Mendoza joked.

She's thankful and very grateful for Gonzales' quick actions on that day and neither of them will ever forget it.